He argued further that the national identity number (NIN) was a crucial feature in the lives of Nigerians, being the unique identity for all and sundry and could not be over emphasized. He argued that it was important that the NIN be viewed the same way the social security number is regarded in the United States of America; as the National insurance Number is esteemed in the United Kingdom, or the AADHAR number in India.
The Honourable Member representing Nembe Constituency 1 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Ebi Ben Ololo, has today made a case for the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to open more registration centres in Bayelsa State.
Hon. Ololo made the call in a motion he moved at the sacred floor of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, entitled
"The Need for National Identify Management Commission (NIMC) to Expand the On-going National Identity Card Registration Centres to Various Wards in Bayelsa State and for Bayelsans to Take Advantage of the Exercise and enrol en-masse."
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| Hon. Ebi Ben Ololo |
The lawmaker pointed out that the National Identity Management Commission was established by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007 with the mandate to establish, own, operate, maintain and manage the National Identity Database in Nigeria, register persons covered by the Act; assign a unique National identity Number (NIN) and issue multi purpose Card(GMPC) to persons covered by the Act.
Hon. Ololo argued that it was unacceptable for NIMC to limit the ongoing NIN enrolment to only the local government area headquarters, without considering the terrain, which is mostly riverine.
The lawmaker who pointed out that he was not comfortable with the fact that, out of the total number of Nigerians enrolled by the NIMC so far, which stood at about 25 million, only about 200 thousand are Bayalsa enrollees, said the development was poor.
He argued further that the national identity number (NIN) was a crucial feature in the lives of Nigerians, being the unique identity for all and sundry and could not be over emphasized. He argued that it was important that the NIN be viewed the same way the social security number is regarded in the United States of America; as the National insurance Number is esteemed in the United Kingdom, or the AADHAR number in India.
The lawmaker advised Bayelsans to present themselves for enrolment in their local government areas to avoid the usual rush that might arise when enforcement of the mandatory use of the NIN for transactions and services as stipulated in Section 27 of the NIMC Act 2007.
Arguing in support of the motion, the Honourable Member representing the Kolokuma/Opokuma Constituency 1, Hon. Tonye Emmanuel Isenah, voiced that it was a deliberate move to short-change Bayelsa State in the ongoing registration exercise. Riding on the back of his constituency, Isenah gave his full legislative support to the motion.
Hon. Monday Edwin Obolo Bubou, who represents Southern Ijaw Constituency 11, in his submission, cited that he came from a terrain where indigenes travel days on river to take part in such activities as a result of the poor and indiscriminate siting of the registration centres across the state.
Other members of the House who argued in favour of the motion include
Hon. Obiene Numodogio Obiene, representing Nembe Constituency 11; Hon. Peter Peretubo Akpe, representing Sagbama Constituency 1, who doubles as Leader of the House; Hon. Emelah Gentle,representing the Yenagoa Constituency 3, and Hon. (Chief ) Mitema Obodo,who represents the Ogbia Constituency 1.
After an explosive debate on the floor of the House by the honourable members, who carefully considered the importance of the exercise, the House thereafter moved as follows: That the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in Bayelsa State should expand the ongoing National Identity Card Enrollment by at least having one(1) registration point or centre in each of the ward headquarters in Bayelsa State, and that Bayelsans should actively participate in the enrollment exercise.
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